NRL 2017: Raiders upset Sharks to keep finals dream alive

WELCOME back, Josh Papalii and Jordan Rapana.

The Canberra duo have starred on their return from suspension in their side’s comprehensive 30-12 win over Cronulla which has kept their finals dream alive.

This clash has featured plenty of spice in recent years, with Sharks coach Shane Flanagan declaring pre-game that “bad blood” exists still exists between players on both sides and we saw glimpses of that on Saturday night.

Papalii spent time in the sin bin for a professional foul midway through the second half, but the Raiders were able to soak up time without their wrecking ball forward and advance their lead by taking three penalty goals during the 10-minute period to close the game out.

Ricky Stuart’s men remain in 10th on the NRL ladder, but the result means they now move to within two points of eighth-placed St George Illawarra, and Penrith who play the Wests Tigers on Sunday afternoon.

Papalii and Rapana weren’t the only ones to light up the field, with the likes of Pommy duo Elliott Whitehead and Josh Hodgson, plus Joey Leilua carving up the black, white and blue defence as the Green Machine ran in four tries to two.

BIRD BLOW

To sour their night further, the Sharks lost strike centre Jack Bird in the 74th minute to an apparent shoulder injury.

Bird emerged from a tackle in some serious discomfort and needed to be taken from the field.

Early reports suggested Bird suffered a dislocation that popped back in soon after.

He was seen in the sheds following the game with his shoulder heavily iced.

Jack Bird of the Sharks lies on the ground with an injury.Source: Getty Images

“Jack, there’s a bit of a shoulder complaint there. We’ll just monitor it over the next 24 hours but I don’t think it’s as bad as first thought,” Sharks coach Shane Flanagan said.

Flanagan also expected to have key members James Maloney and Jayden Brailley back in the side in the coming weeks.

“Jimmy’s next week, he’s trained well,” he said.

“Jayden’s probably the week after.”

To celebrate Retro Round, FOX LEAGUE has partnered with the NRL to give fans the chance to attend Panthers v Wests Tigers at a reduced price this Sunday. Fans can redeem the ticket offer by logging onto nrl.com/tickets and entering the code word ‘retro’ before midnight, Saturday August 5.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Off the back off a Raiders penalty and error, the Sharks got out to a perfect start with a left side play putting Sosaia Feki over untouched for his 50th NRL try.

More ill-discipline cost their Raiders in the 10th minute and the Sharks extended their lead to 8-0 with a penalty goal.

Sosaia Feki of the Sharks celebrates with his teammates Fa'amanu Brown and Ricky Leutele of the Sharks after scoring a try.Source: Getty Images

The tide turned in the 15th minute when a Sharks penalty led to a rampaging Josh Papalii crashing over the line.

Moments later the scores were locked up at 8-all after Elliott Whitehead was obstructed while chasing a kick.

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The Green Machine had well and truly switched on and 21st minute, a Blake Austin bomb found Jordan Rapana who dived over to put his side ahead.

An Andrew Fifta high shot and dangerous tackle from Wade Graham helped the Raiders back down field with Rapana bagging his second try following a wonderful cutout ball from a scrum from Joey Leilua.

On the stroke of halftime, the Raiders extended their lead once again when a crafty offload from Whitehead found Hodgson who cut through the black, white and blue defence.

The Sharks weren’t done and registered first points after the break when a piece of fluke play saw Jack Bird slice though and pass to Gerard Beale to finish off.

Papalii was sent to the sin bin for a foul on Paul Gallen, but despite being a man down, the Raiders were able to take advantage of some poor Sharks penalties and slot three penalty goals to take their lead out to 30-12 which they held until full-time.